Re: L-I: Fw: Argentina fallout

["Nestor Miguel Gorojovsky" <gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

En relación a L-I: Fw: Argentina fallout,
el 22 Apr 00, a las 18:36, Johannes Schneider dijo:

> Forwarded from the marxism list:

[by Louis Proyect]

>
> >New York Times, April 22, 2000
> >
> >Argentina Holds 14 Officers in Beating of Labor Demonstrators
> >
> >By CLIFFORD KRAUSS
> >
> >BUENOS AIRES, April 21 -- Fourteen police officers have been arrested
> >for beating 35 union supporters and shooting another during a
> >crackdown on a demonstration this week that has jeopardized the
> >centerpiece of President Fernando de la Rúa's economic policy.

Yes, they are to be the scapegoats. A whole story is being woven in
the mainstream media these days on policemen attempting to
destabilize the Police Chief, a "democratic" policeman appointed by
the "progressive" Alianza.

In fact, the whole operation was closely surveyed by the Secretario
de Seguridad, Enrique Mathov, according to declarations of his
superior Federico Storani, Minister of the Interior. Storani gave an
extensive interview to the pro-Alianza, pro-Zionist, "leftish-
progressive" newspaper _Pagina 12_ today.  Enrique Mathov is an
Idealtypus of Radical bully and trader of minor social security
benefits, what is known here as the "puntero radical" (puntero
meaning pointer, the one who points out). During the last Radical
government (Alfonsín), I was present at a protest march by the Buenos
Aires teachers. Mathov was watching the protest from the high floors
of the Buenos Aires Legislature, from where he threw heavy glass
ashtrays on the protesters (I took hold of one which did not break,
and I keep it at home as a kind of "war souvenir"). This is the guy.
_Pagina 12_ had to admit that Mathov did not concede an interview.

> >
> >The incident on Wednesday, in which the officers bludgeoned
> >demonstrators as they lay on the ground, was televised live, stunning
> >the country and deeply embarrassing Mr. de la Rúa.

Yes, it is always embarrassing when you look yourself at the mirror
and see the true face of Dorian Gray.

> >
> >It was one of the worst cases of police brutality here since
> >civilians retook power from a military dictatorship in 1983.

It certainly was worse than anything that happened in Buenos Aires
since Menem took power. And keep in mind that Buenos Aires has always
been hostile to Menem.

> >
> >Several hundred labor supporters demonstrated to block access to the
> >Congress building to impede the start of a Senate debate on a new
> >labor code.

Ah, interesting how the NYT takes as its own the official explanation
given by the Govm't. Organizers of the protest never talked of
impeding the start of anything. This is simply slander by the
imperialist logbook and reference paper.

[...]

> >
> >"The police who exceeded their powers will be severely punished," Mr.
> >Storani added.

The question is whether Mathov [and Storani himself] will be severely
punished or not. Anything less than that will mean a war declaration
on the long run.

> >
> >Before a federal judge ordered the officers' arrests on Thursday
> >night, Mr. de la Rúa echoed press speculation that the harsh measures
> >of the police might have been planned to embarrass his government and
> >stymie the changes in the labor law.

Echos have a strange way in Argentina to be emitted backwards. It was
the press that reproduced the speculation by some Radical speakers.

> >
> >When Mr. de la Rúa ran for president last year, he made cleaning up
> >police corruption and brutality a campaign issue. Since he took
> >office in December, he has purged the civilian government and
> >military intelligence branches of hundreds of officials suspected of
> >wrongdoing.

Through the good offices of Mr. De Santibáñez, a --banker! Yes, we
have a banker heading our Intelligence services now.

[...]

> >The demonstration put the Justicialists, who have been associated
> >with big labor since their party was founded by Gen. Juan D. Perón a
> >half-century ago, in a difficult position with regard to supporting
> >Mr. de la Rúa's proposal.
> >
> >That has raised the likelihood that the bill could be watered down.
> >
> >The bill is being delayed as Mr. de la Rúa struggles to show progress
> >in reinvigorating an economy that has been in recession for two
> >years.

Ah, the language of the Master! Translation:  "to show progress in
ensuring continued plunder as the basic economic relation, a plunder
that at last has put the formerly rich Argentina in recession for two
years".  Recession, BTW, should be clearly understood: we are under
deflation for month after month! D E F L A T I O N!

> >
> >Still, Mr. de la Rúa has said he needs the labor bill to cut the
> >unemployment rate. The bill appeared to be sailing to enactment six
> >weeks ago, after a planned national labor strike had failed and the
> >lower house of Congress passed it overwhelmingly in late February.

In fact, the law will just put into legality what is the current
practice in most industrial firms. I have proposed Lou to include my
friend Fernando Lavallén in the list. He is a plant manager, with
years of experience in Argentinian firms working in the plastics
industry. He can give us a good precis of what are the current
conditions there. For the time being, however, he can write it down
in Spanish only. But his reports are extraordinary. And awesome.

> >
> >When former President Carlos SauÀl Menem joined crucial Justicialist
> >governors in backing the legislation, Senate passage looked certain.
> >But a dissident faction of the national Peronist labor confederation
> >has sworn to continue resistance to the bill, and opposition senators
> >are calling for amendments that government officials say are
> >unacceptable.
> >
> >Some Peronist senators are now thought to favor enactment of the
> >labor bill by presidential decree, so that they do not have to vote
> >for the measure and anger organized labor. But others appear willing
> >to continue negotiations with the government.

And still others (ah, the NYT does not pay attention to details) have
turned  AGAINST the bill.



Néstor Miguel Gorojovsky
gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxx


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